$45 Million Salmon Rescue Effort Ok’d

With Uncle Sam’s heavy hand looming in the background, the Legislature sent the governor a $45 million proposal Tuesday to start rescuing dying wild salmon runs in Washington.

In related action, lawmakers also sent Gov. Gary Locke a measure intended to improve the way the state manages ground and surface water, an endeavor the governor says is critical to the restoration of wild salmon.

Voting unanimously, the House concurred on Senate amendments to HB2496, which sets up a structure to identify and rehabilitate wild salmon habitat across Washington.

Along with it will come about $45 million on which state agencies, counties, cities and Indian tribes could draw to carry out salmon restoration work.

It appears Locke will sign the measure. Tom Fitzsimmons, director of the Ecology Department, said he and the governor both welcomed the bill’s passage.